The Nashville Predators kick off the new year on January 1, 2026, by facing the Seattle Kraken at Climate Pledge Arena. This matchup marks the first encounter between the two teams for the current season, with additional games scheduled in March.
Predators’ Recent Performance
After wrapping up 2025 with a victory against the Vegas Golden Knights, the Predators look to maintain their momentum. This six-game road trip started with a loss against the St. Louis Blues, but Nashville bounced back with wins in Utah and Vegas. Notably, they defeated the Golden Knights 4-2, where Steven Stamkos achieved his milestone 600th NHL goal.
Team Updates
- Ryan O’Reilly leads the Predators with 34 points this season.
- Filip Forsberg follows with 31 points, while Luke Evangelista has recorded 29 points.
- Juuse Saros stands with a 15-12-3 record, while Justus Annunen holds a 3-5-1 record this season.
Head Coach Andrew Brunette commented on the team’s progress: “We’re starting to learn every day. We’re getting better.” The consistency in lineup remains, except for Jonathan Marchessault, who is sidelined due to a lower-body injury.
Facing the Kraken
The Seattle Kraken enter this contest after a four-game winning streak that ended with a shootout loss to the Vancouver Canucks. Jordan Eberle leads Seattle with 25 points, closely followed by Eeli Tolvanen, who has the same points tally. Tolvanen is a former Predators player, contributing to the interesting dynamics of the matchup.
All-Time Matchup
Historically, the Predators have faced the Kraken 12 times, posting a record of 5 wins and 7 losses. Their previous meeting was a notable one, as it was Nashville’s first-ever matchup against Seattle on October 14, 2021, which ended in a 4-3 defeat.
Upcoming Coverage
Fans can catch the live coverage of the Predators versus Kraken game starting at 8:30 p.m. CT across various platforms. The pregame show will be hosted by Lyndsay Rowley on FanDuel Sports Network South.
This exciting January 1 showdown will showcase the growth and resilience of the Nashville Predators as they aim for yet another victory against a competitive Seattle Kraken team.
